Process of metal attenuation



April 24, 1945. M. E. EVANS 2,374,594

PROCESS `OF METAL ATTENUATION Filed June 5, 1941 `2 Sheets-Sheet l h. t N ATTORNEY April 24, 1945. M. E. EVANS 2,374,594

PROCESS OF METAL ATTENUATION Filed June 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented' Apr. 24, 19:45

UNITED STATES PATENT i OFFICE PROCESS F METAL ATTENUATION Martin E. Evans, Kankakee, Ill. Y Application June 5, 1941, Serial No. 396,788

29 Claims. (Cl. 2li-155.41)

This invention relates to the attenuation of material, and particularly to a process of multiple attenuation in the sense that a number of strands are handled and attenuated at the same time in a group arrangement.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a process of drawing a number of wires whereby the handling andthe number of dies are reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the improved process is to provide for drawing a group of.wires simultaneoulsy through a die in such a manner as to automatically secure to each wire a proportionate reduction of the original cross-section of each wire of the group, and to preserve to each wire its cross-sectional shape.

A further object ofthe process is to provide for elongating wires of different cross-sectional shapes simultaneously through a die shaped independentlyof the wire cross-section.

Another object of theA process is to provide for changing the shape of selected portions of the In still another aspect, the process contemyplates providing heat treatment of the wire incidental to wire drawing.

In its broadest aspect, the process contemplates bonding a number of strips together, attenuating the strips in a group, removing the bonding means wholly or partially from the wires resulting from the strips and the utilization of the grouped position of the wires for further processing of a diierent kind, such as twisting and insulating to form an insulated electric conductor.

The various 'objects are attained by employing in seriesv arrangement, metal coating apparatus attenuating apparatus, wire accumulating and heat treating apparatus so coordinated in their operation that the continuityof operations onthe .material in its passage through the series is uninterrupted.. The first l mentioned object is accomplished by causing a number oi; strips, with surfaces suitably conditioned for coating with molten metal of a melting temperature lower than that of the strip metaL-to pass through a body of the coating metal and to assume a closely grouped position with coating metal between strips, eective to bond them into a solid body. The handling and threading through dies then grouped position with one wire as a center, and

suicient bonding metal attached between the wires to form a solid cylindrical body of metal with the wires, the body of metal maybe attenuated in a graduated series of dies for a round wire, each wire held in the cylindrical body receiving its proportionate lreduction in each adie. Variousv means for so grouping and bonding the-wires for attenuation are available, particular preference being given to -a device which comprises a coating metal bath, a die immersed in the coating metal on one face, with cooling means on the opposite face, and heating means intermediate thereof, and a traction drum of a Wi-re drawing machine, all operative sothat say seven round wires of equal size apart from each other upon entering the metal bath at one end emerge therefrom at the opposite end, grouped together` through a round die with bath metal attached between the wires as a solid body to the form ofthe die, by reason of the die cooling and the traction furnished by the drawing drum.

In the attainment of the second object of this invention, in addition to the use o f relatively soft and low melting material for iilling in between the wires, provision is made use of to assure joint passage of wire and filler through the attenuating die which is the subject oi.' a separate patent., The

tapered reducing section of the die in between.

Thus the reducing die, not shown in detail, has an approaching tube long enough to accommodate lubricating material and bonded strips and to restrain any backward flow tendency of the bonding material.

filler, progressive placement, attenuation, and re.- v

moval of ller is feasible. I

As an example of a suitable bonding metal, zinc may be used. It unites readily with ferrous base metals, and is electropositive and acts as a lubri- The die also has an exit passage long enough to restrain any forward flow of the bonding material ahead ofthe elongating wires. I'his 'heat of the performed, as previously described, the residual coating operation is not allowed .to below a point having a temperature of 150 F, while higher temperatures, ranging up to or approaching plasticity of the zinc, are sometimes desirable, as the thickness of the bonding metal section increases; Usually a working temperature in the vicinity of'300" F. is satisfactory. The repeated elongation of the zinc strip through dies at such temperatures` gives the zinc coating pliability and ductility greatly in excess of lilge qualities in unworked zinc coatings of various thickness. An individual wire so coated and attenuated has a greater protection value, by reason of the pliability and ductility accompanying a' greater and uniform thickness of zinc on the wire.

As an example of changing the shape of selectedv sections of the cross-section of a wire and of a plurality of wires simultaneously, again consider a group of seven round wires, all of the same size,

r,/grouped together with six of-thewires around a center wire, emerging from a bath of zinc through a die tting closely the outer contour around the wires with bath metal bonding the wires ttogether interiorly. The bonded group of wires, when passed through a series of round reducing dies, lspreads crcumferentially and shrinks diametrically to fill the valleys between the wires until 'a solid body of metal lls a die, after which the wire elongates during further passage through dies. The cross-sectional shape of the circumferential wires consequently changes from round to keystone shape, with the outer circumference fitting to the die circle. Furth r reductions of the group of wires secures to the round center wire, and to the circumferential keystone wires. their proportionate percentage of reduction.

In the manufacture of lamp cord for electric lamps, No. 30 gage B. S. copper wire .010 inch in diameter is assembled in groups of 16, 26, 41, and 65 wires for sizes 18, 16, 14 and 12 B. 8a S. gage respectively. In the manufacturing operation, each wire is drawn and spooled separately. The wires are then unspooled, as they are assembled in a group for twisting and covering with insulation. Contrasted .with this practice, the present invention contemplated bonded grouping of the requisite number of wires in the manner heretofore described, 16, 26, 41, and 65 copper wires, which after a series of reductions have a nal diameter of 0.10 inch per wire and group sizes of 18, 16, 14 and l2 B. Sz S. gages respectively. Because the ultimate wire size is so small in these cases, it is desirable to have no alloy bond between the wire and the bonding material, and to effect the necessaryy bonding action, the zinc and/or other suitable material is' placed around and between the wires which are not suitably surface conditioned for bonding by an alloying action. Where alloying action is required, chemically clean surfaces of wires are presented to the bonding metal. The greater the number of wires in of labor is greatly increased.' After the last reduction the bonding metal is readily removed. If the wires are to be used for some other purpose than the construction of an electric cable, they may-be spooled individually upon removal from the accumulation in separated condition.

The apparatus used in the application of the process may vary widely and is chosen to accord withthe sequential operation to be performed. A set up of a series of six units for one application of the process'is illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view and Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line I-I of Fig. 1 of a bonding mechanism c Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 showing the final bondingunits. i

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a group of round wires bonded together Fig. 6 is an elevation in'partial section of a wire drawing mechanism and of an associated separating unit for bonded wires.

a group, the smaller the size of the wire when drawingis accomplished. By handling the wires in a group for the product outlined, much scrap and much expensive handling is avoided, fewer dies are required, and production costs are materially lowered. It is obvious that with sixteen wires grouped in a single unit, only one-sixteenth as many operations are required for threading through dies, spooling, respooling, etc., as where the wires are handled individually. The chances of breakage are reduced to a minimum by the group arrangement, and the production per unit Fig. 7 isa plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 6. v

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, and Fig'. 9 is a plan view of a twisting and take up mechanism.

In the sequence in which they take part in the operations, the units employed are a water bath, an acid bath 2, a bonding unit 3, a wire drawing unit 4, a debonding unit Ii, and a combined twisting andv take-up unit 6, the material extending from the first to the last unit in some cases, and collecting at intermediate points in other cases.

Referring to Fig. 1, a group of parallel separated wires 8 from reels not shown are passed over a guide roll 9, into a water bath I0, and under guide rolls II therein, then out and over guide rolls I2, into-acid bath I3, and under guide rolls I4, out and over guide rolls AI5 while receiving heat from plate I6, then into metal bath I1, and under guide roll I8. As the separated wires 8 pass from the roll into the metal bath they converge in the metal bath I1 and are brought to.- gether in the groove I9 of guidewheel 20.

From the guidewheel 20 the wires in nested collected` on pins inserted in sockets'28 or it may be withdrawn and subjected to further processv ing.

Considered in their broad 4aspects relative to the preliminaries to attenuation of a group of strips, it is seen that the steps involve the assembly of the strips in agroup arrangement,.

the placement of supporting material between the strips, and the utilization of heat to/effect the formation of the supporting material among the strips as they emerge from immersion in the supporting material. The placement of the supporting material is effected while the strips are traveling. It is also effected while the portionv of the strips thereon is undergoing an attenuating operation.

f Regarding the supporting material, it is seen that it must be in a condition to flow between the wires, as they travel in group relationship through the material in a container.

While zinchas been set forth as suitable support material, consideration of the operations involved shows that they are not limited to this class of material for group supporting of strips.` In this respect it is seen that the material must lend itself for' conditioning to flow between the wires, must beg.- responsive to-incrementsof heat sumcient'tc form a body between the wires, and must be adapted to working inv a die or other attenuating apparatus. Zinc is rather recalcitrant toward working in a die at atmospheric temperatures. Heat from the bath or die conveyed with the zinc on the strips renders it amenable to the attenuating operation.

The cooperative relationship of the bonding elements are detailed in Figs. 3 and 4. A pair of elongated arms 21 are positioned at one end on pipelike pivots 28 and 29 at the exit end of the metal bath I1 so that the arms extend each alongits side of the bath I1. The other end of the pair of arms isseparated by a shaft 291 carrying at its mid Vposition the guide wheel 20,

i and parallel to said shaft a bar 3|) on the exit side of the guide wheel 26. The cross bar 30 has a tapered recess carrying die 22 and asbestos wipe 2|. The pivoted ends of the arms 21 are formed into a boxlike member 3| within which is a smaller'box number 32 having an intervening space 33 between box bottoms. The pipelike pivots provide passages to the smaller box 32, a valve 34 on` pivot 29 providing control of flow into the box, while pivot 28 provides an exit passage. The said pivots also permit relative movement ofthe two boxes 3| and 32 which have the swinging ends on a bevel to accommodate such movement.' The beveled ends are at right angles to the line of,` travel of the wire which passes through concentric openings 35 and 36 respectively in the said swinging ends. These openings are concentric with a removable die 31 provided with electrical heating elements 36 and 39 and with liquid cooling means 49 from inner box 32 through passages 36 and 35. The die 31 is mounted in a recess in a cross bar 4| having an upstanding pair of extensions 42 pivoted on pins 43 held on the upper edges of parallel arms 21. A beveled extension of the die 31 fits into a recess concentric with the recess 35 in the end of box 3| thereby forming a tight joint therebetween. The pins 43 extend linto yokes 44 on the edges of bath I1 and are there'held by removable pins 45 which serve to hold the bonding combination immersed in the bath I1 duringbondingoperations.

The asbestos wipe 2| and its die 22 also bonding die 31 are in alignment with thedischarging side of the guidewheel 29 andthe capstan 25, the latter driven bymeans not shown.

In operation the several wires 8 converging to the grooved guidewheel 20 pass in grouped relationship through the asbestos which cleans the external surface of through grouping die 22 and on vthrough bonding die .opening 23 into contact with the cooling liquid 49 in box 32 and then on to apstan 25 which provides traction for the grouped wires.-

As the wires pass through the bonding die opening 23 bath metal I1 in the die opening is congealed into the wires by proper control of the electrical heating elements 38 and 39 and of the cooling medium 49 so that the bath metal takes on the form of the exit opening of the die andv encloses the wires in its embrace. Referring to Fig. 5, the wires 8 are shown completely surrounded by congealed bath metal I 1.

.wipe 2|,v the group,

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 the drawing unit there shown comprises a boxlike frame 46 supporting die holders 41 with dies 48 therein, drawing drums 49, and a drive shaft 50 with intermediated gearing between the drive shaft and drums whereby the drums are rotated. A clutch 5| in the drive shaft between drum drives permits selective operation of drawing drums. The hub 6I of each drum 49 is keyed or otherwise secured to a hollow vertical shaft 52, the latter projecting upwardly through the box frame 46 and being suitably journalled in a bushing 53 by a bearing bracket 54 secured to the under side of the box top. At its lower end the shaft carries secured thereto a beveled gear 55 which is in mesh with a vbeveled pinion 56 that derives rotation through shaft 56 and beveled gears 59 and 69 from shaft 50. For the drawing of wire continuously additional mechanism is required to effect the passage of the wire from block to block, or drum to drum.

The shaft 52 of each block or drum has an extension 63 above the drawing drum 49 having thereon and frictionally driven thereby an arm 62 projecting beyond the periphery of the drum 49 carrying a rotatively mounted guidewheel 64. The arm 62 `has a tapered bearing on the shaft 52 which is adjusted in position by ring 65 wherebyl to regulate the frictional engagement between the arm and the shaft. In the hollow Y shaft 52 is positioned a spindle 66 which carries on its upper end a drum 61 keyed or otherwise fastened thereto and on its lower end a beveled gear 68 loosely mounted thereon, and intermediate to the bevel gear 55 on the hollow shaft 52 and the loosely mounted gear 66 a friction clutchl 69 keyed to thespindle and adapted by its engagement with the gear 68 to transmit motion to the upper drum 61. The lower gear 66 is driven by the same pinion 56 but in the opposite direction as the gear 55 on the upright shaft 52. Movement of the clutch 69 by a lever not shown to the disengaging position throws the clutch against a projecting stationary arm 16 with sufilcient force to hold the disengaged spindle from free rotation thereby providing' a brake to the drum 61. In the spindle 66 'is embedded an electrical cable having at its .lower end terminals on a ypair of sliprlngs 1| and 12 in engagement with terminal brushes 13 and 14 respectively mounted on the frame 46 and providing current to the rotating cable. The upper end terminals 'l5 and 16 of the cable are attached to a heating coil 11 within the upper drum 61 serving to heat said upper drum in accordanceI with operating requirements. Adjacent to the upper drum 61 and positioned to receive wire tangentially therefrom is a guide wheel 18 ona standard 19 carrying a second guide positioned to guide wire from the vup'- per wheel on its passage to a die 46 or to a succeeding operation.

In operation the yperiphery of each drum re- 'ceives enough coils of wire to provide the tracl sage to the upper drum so that in effect lthe guide wheel transfers wire from the lower to the upper drum. The wire crowding upwardly on the upper drum there accumulates and is withdrawn therefrom by the drum's rotation with regard to the operation of the drawing drum 48.

The two drums constitute a variable accumucomprising an electrically heated furnace chamber 8| on hollow base 82. Terminals 88 and 84 supply currentY to-the furnace. A trough like bracket 85 on base 82 carries sizing dies 88, wipes 81, and guide wheels 88 in alignment with the tablelike furnace chambers 8|. Bonded wires passing from the last guide 88 of the attenuating operations enter the heated furnace 8| and in consequence of the heat gradually drop their bonding metal to the furnace bottom. The separated wires pass through asbestos wipes 81, sizing dies 88 and around guide wheels 88 to a subsequent operation. Bonding metal from the furnace bottom and wipes flows over trough bracket 88 to a receptacle not shown within the furnace base 82. The subsequent operation illustrated is a regroupingof the wires in a die 88 which is the entrance member of a twisting and coiling mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 and duplicating the mechanism set forth in U. S. Patent 8,825 to Joslin for making cordage. This particular twisting arrangement is chosen because the takeup'rotates thereby performing the twisting while allowing the wires to move onlyl longitudinally. It comprises a stationary die 88 in a rotatably mounted yoke 90 in standards 91". A pulley 82 imparts motion to the yoke. Stationary gears 88 and 84 on opposite ends of the yoke through geared connection to ceiling drum 85 and takeup drum 96 respectively cause said drums to rotate about their axes positioned crosswise to saidyoke 80. The coilingdrum 85 is removably mounted through the removable shaft 81 upon which it is supported, whereby' successive drums may be positionedt-The operation of this twisting mechanism is contemplated to be simultaneous with the preceding units already described. The copper wires are cleaned, acid coated, immersed in zinc, bonded together, attenuated, debonded, and twisted in sequence, intermediate accumulation of the wires taking place to accommodate the rates of operation required for the successful manipulation of the material in hand.

An attempt to mention or describe all of the known or possible processes for bonding together a number of wires for their group elongation and handling through dies, and the releasing of the wires from their bonded condition, is not Vattempted; however, this invention is not limited to those processes mentioned or described, but embraces every method of effecting such bonding condition. Furthermore, it is not essential in this invention to employ only metal as a filler for inner cavities between wires grouped closely together, the essential requirements being that the filler material should not be appreciably comthus far described the sucwires are bonded together and so drawn,

'longer life under stress.

than zinc may be used for bonding. The stage,

in the process after drawing where the release of the bonding metal is effected may be widely varied. In fact,\in some cases the release of the bond is not essential; as, where a pair only of stel Da ented, again drawn and then incorporated in a rope strand, the bond between the wires serving to facilitate manufacturing and to give increased life in the rope by holding either wire, should it break in proper position beside the other wire. The steps outlined in the process are capable of wide variations in application. In this connection, again refer to the first of the various means for grouping and bonding units together wire is being passed-through a coating metal bath of zinc, through a die larger than the wire immersed in the coating metal on one face, with,

cooling means on the opposite face, and heating means intermediate the faces, so that solid zinc 'and the wire emerge from the die by reason of the die cooling, to a traction drum and into a heated accumulator above F., through a series of reducing dies while above 150 F. and

less than melting temperature of the zinc. These essential steps for group attenuation when operative on a single steel wire produce a new product of high strength due to absence of annealing incident to galvanizing at finish size, one

with a heavy zinccoat of predetermined thickness, by reason of the die, and flexible by reason of working repeatedly at an elevated temperature, preferably above 300 F., but permissibly as low as 150 F. Just as a further example of the variations intended; consider a ylaminated ingot of st'eelprepared by taking smooth, rectangular, thinlyy copper coated bars two inches by two inches by six feet piled, eighty-one pieces, together to form an eighteen inch by eighteen inch ingot in an atmosphere of hydrogen heated to the vicinity of the melting point of the copper. This hydrogen copper brazing process in the capillaries between the steel bars brazes them into a solid body of laminated Vmakeup which, when rolled vinto rods and drawn into wire, still retains the laminated structure. This laminated structure of the wires gives it a characteristic behavior under stress which is entirely absent from unlaminated steel wire. Repeated fiexure of an unlaminated wire starts a fracture in the wire which spreads over the Wire section without interruption. Repeated flexure of the laminated wire y starts a fracture in the laminations one after the other just as though each lamination were a separate wire, which it is infact, resulting in a much This wire of laminated structure is also a new product, the filaments of which may be patented, tempered, annealed, twisted or otherwise manipulated in. a group. When the filaments are to be separated, it is preferable that a bonding metal be used of lower melting temperature than copper. Also when a lower melting temperature metal is used its application must be suitably timed in the operations to avoid the high heat incident to rod rolling.

I claim:

1. In the process of attenuating a plurality of metal strips the steps consisting of arranging said strips in a group, progressively providing auxiliary metal from a molten state between the capable of yextension protion of said group to operation while said removal is adjacent surfaces of said strips in said group, adapted to support said adjacent surfaces against distortion during attenuation, subjecting the leading portion of said group to an attenuating operation while the following portion thereof receives said first operation, and separating said auxiliary metal from the leading portion of said strips while the following portion thereof receives Said second operation.

2. In the process of attenuating a plurality of metal strips, the steps consisting of arranging said strips in a grou providing auxiliary metal from a molten state between the adjacent surfaces of said strips in said group adapted to sup- Vport said adjacent surfaces against distortion during attenuation, subjecting the .leading poran attenuating operation, and utilizing heat for separating said auxiliary metal while thefol1owing' portion thereof receives said first operationfrom said strips while the following portion thereof receives said attenuation.' V

3. In the process of attenuating a plurality of metal strips, the steps consisting of arranging said strips in a group, providing auxiliary metal from a molten state between adjacent surfaces of said strips in said group adapted to support said adjacent surfaces against distortion during drawing into wire, subjecting the leading portion of said 4group to attenuation by wire drawing while the following portion thereof receives said first operation, and subjecting said auxiliary metal of the leading portion of said group to heat for` the removal thereof from said strips while the following portion of said group receives said attenuatiou.

4. In the process of attenuating a plurality of metal strips, the steps consistingof arranging said strips in a group, providing auxiliary metal Vfrom a molten state between adjacent surfaces of said strips in said group adapted to support said adjacent surfaces against distortion during drawing into wire, subjecting the leading portion v ofr said group to attenuation by wire drawing while the following portion thereof receives said first operation, utilizing heat for the removal of said auxiliary metal from the leading portion of said strips, and winding saidstrips in coils while the following portion thereof receives said attenuation.

5. In the process of attenuating a plurality of metal strips, the steps consisting of arranging said strips in a group, providing auxiliary metal from a molten state between adjacent surfaces of said strips in said group adapted to support said adjacent surfaces against distortion during drawing into wire, subjecting the leading portion of said group to attenuation by wire drawing, utilizing heat for the removal of said auxiliary metal from the leading'portion of said group of strips while the following portion thereof isattenuated, and subjecting the leading portion of said group` of wires to a twisting and winding effected 4on the following portion.

6. The process of producing an attenuated metal article which comprises congealing a thickness of coating metal adapted to proportionate reduction with a strip on which it congeals, retaining heat of said congealing metal in said congealing metal in said coating during a plurality of attenuations, performing a plurality of attenuations on the leading portion of said combination soheated while effecting said congealing `operation on the following portion thereof, therethem during drawing, drawing the leading portion of said group of wires and material through a reducing die while performing said first operation, releasing said material from the leading portion of said surfaces and twisting said group of wires while performing said flrst operation on the following portions thereof, thereby avoiding separate coiling of said wires after drawing.

8. In the process of attenuating a plurality of wires the steps which comprise placing between the surfaces of said wires material adapted to support them in their relation to each other during drawing and utilizing said material to substantially maintain the contour of said wires while reduction in their cross section is effected, and separating said material from the leading portion of said wires thereby making the leading portion-v of said wires available for individual treatment while said placing operation is effected on the following portion of said wires. l

9. In the process of attenuating a plurality of wires the steps which comprise placing between :he surfaces of said support them in their relation to each other during drawing. and while performing said first operation utilizing said material to substantially maintain the contour of the leading portion of said wires while reduction in their cross section is effected in a die, and removing said material from between said wires, whereby the number of dies and the handling of the wire for the attenuation of said wires of prescribed contour are diminished.

10.` In the process of attenuating a plurality of wires, the steps which comprise passing said wires through a metal bath and causing metal therefrom to congeal between said wires as support thereto, and while effecting said congealing oper-- ation utilizing said metal on a leading portion of said wires to substantially maintain the contour of said Wires while reduction in their cross section in a die occurs.

11. In the process of attenuating a plurality 0f wires, the steps which comprise passing said wires through a metal bath and causing metal therefrom to congeal between said wires as support thereto and while placing said metal utilizing said metal on a leading portion of said wires to substantially maintain the contour of said wires while reduction in their cross section in a. die occurs; and removing said metal from between said wires, whereby the number of dies for attenuating said wires is materially reduced.

12. In the process of attenuating a plurality of wires the steps which comprise placing between the surfaces of'said wires material adapted to support them in their relation to each other `during drawing and while placing said material utilizing said material on a leading portion of said wires to substantially maintain the individual contour of each wire while reduction in the cross sectonrof said leading portion of wires is effected simultaneously in a die, and removing said .ma-

terial from between said Wires, whereby the num `between adjacent sur` wires material adapted to' tion of said wires the separate coiling of said drawn ing said plurality of wires is materially reduced.`

14. In the process of manufacturing twisted wires the steps consisting of congealing molten metal between a group of wires thereby providing support between said wires; and while placing said metal utilizing said metal on a leading porto substantially maintain the contour of said wires while reduction in cross section in a die is effected;- removing said metal from between said wires; and twisting said wires, thereby avoiding coiling of said wires after drawing and reducing the number of dies for drawing.

15. In the process of manufacturing twisted copper cable, the steps comprising congealing between the wires of said cable metal adapted to support said wires in their relation to each other; and while placing said metal utilizing said metal on a leading portion of said wires to substantially maintain the individual contour of each wire while reduction lin the cross section of said wires is effected in a die, and removing enough material from between said wires to permit relative movement between said Wires; and twisting said wires, thereby reducing the number of dies for drawing said wires and the breakage of said wires and wires. 16. The method of making a 'bimetal strip which consists in passing a metal strip through a bath of molten metal, beneath the surface thereof, and as it leaves the molten metal passing it through a die with sectional opening greater than the section of said strip, whereby molten metal is carried with said strip, and congealing said molten metal on said strip before it emerges from said die, said congealing metal being of a character such as to require a temperature above the normal atmosphere in order that during further working said metal may acquire pliability, and

K working said strip at said temperature.

ing through said die, and immersing-one face of said die in a bath of a liquid adapted to form the said surface on said progressing wire.

20. In the process of producing an attenuated metal article, the steps consisting in heating the tapered passage in a die and zinc therein adapted through heat to act as a lubricant upon a strip therein and utilizing said zinc while vheatedon said strip to facilitate its passage through'a plurality of dies, u

21. In the process of producing an attenuated metal article, the steps consisting of heating a metal strip to a. temperature approaching molten metal adapted to congeal thereon, progressively congealing metal in a passageV around said strip thereby bonding said congealed metal on said strip flow'of congealing metal through said passage and regulating the temperature of said passage thereby to control the friction of saidcongealed metal in its movement.

22. In the process of producing an attenuated metal article the steps consisting of progressively congealing metal in indentures in the cross Sectional contour of strip material, progressively attenuating the leading portion of said strip and 17. In the process of producing an attenuated y metal article, the steps consisting of immersing the entrance of a die in a bath of metal adapted to congeal on a metal strip, progressively congealing metal from said bath upon ay strip lexa` tending through said die, and utilizing the conf gealed metal on said strip to limit the flow of congealing metal from said die, said congealing metal being of a charactersuch as to require a temperature above the normal atmosphere in order that during further working said metal may acquire pliability, and working said strip at said temperature.

18. In-the process of producing an attenuated metal article, the steps consisting of immersing the entrance of a die in a bath of metal adapted to congeal on a metal strip, progressively congealicng metal from said bath upon a strip extending -through said die, progressively utilizing the Vcongealed metal on said stripin they exit 'orice of said die to control the flow of metal from said bath and heating the metal ln the entrance 'of said die to control the friction of the metal congealing therefrom.

19. Ing-the process of drawing wire the steps comprising-providing minute temperature increases in a die by electrical heating and minute temperature decreases by refrigeration thereby I4,controlling the surface condition of wire progresscongealed metal while performing said congealing operation on the following portion of saldi-f'v strip, and removing said congealed metal from said strip thereby preserving said indentures.

23. In the process of producing a uniform coat' ing of athickness heavier than an air cooledV dipped product on a core strip, the steps consisting of progressively congealing said coating material in a die by contact with a liquid `as said strip emerges from a bath of said coating material, and progressively sizing said coating thickness by said congealing Operation.

24. In the process of producing a uniform zinc coating of a thickness heavier than anair cooled dipped product on a core wire, thesteps consisting of progressively congealing said zinc in a die by contact with a liquid as said wire emerges from a bath; sizing said coating thickness by said congealing operatiomand utilizing the residual heat in said congealed metal to facilitate its passage through an attenuating device,

25. In the' process of producing a uniform zinc coating of a thickness heavier than an air cooled dipped product on a core wire, the steps consisting of progressively congealing said zinc in a die by contact with a liquid as said wire emerges from a zinc bath, and utilizing the residual heat in said congealed zinc to facilitate its passage through an attenuating device.

26. In the process of attenuating metal wires y the steps which comprise attenuating a leading section of a group of'wires; providing supporting material between the followingsection wires of said group; and progressively actuating said Wires to said attenuating operation in which said supporting material is utilized to secure propor tionate reduction of said wires in 27. In an attenuating process for metal strips l the group.

the metal to said strip, utilizing to limit` the supporting material between said wires as they enter an attenuating die for reduction, passing said wires through said die; separating said wires from each other; and coiling said wires, whereby said Wires are attenuated with their original cross sectional outline.

MARTIN E. EVANS. 

